How to transfer calls between your phones
Call forwarding sends incoming calls from one phone number to a different phone — yours, someone else's, or a voicemail service. The setup depends on your phone type and service provider. Most people set it up through their phone's settings menu or by calling their carrier's customer service line. You can forward all calls, calls only when you don't answer, or calls during specific times.
The mechanics differ between smartphones, landlines, and business phone systems. A smartphone forwards calls through settings you control yourself. A landline usually requires calling your provider or using their online account portal. The process takes minutes once you know which method your phone uses.
Key Takeaways
- Smartphone call forwarding is built into your phone's settings and works through your carrier's network, not an app.
- Landline forwarding requires contacting your phone company or logging into your account online, and may have a monthly fee.
- You can forward all calls, only unanswered calls, or calls during specific hours depending on your phone type.
- Call forwarding continues to work even if your original phone is off, as long as your carrier's network is active.
- Forwarding to an international number usually costs extra and requires your carrier to enable it first.
Setting up call forwarding on an iPhone
On an iPhone, call forwarding is in Settings under Phone. Open Settings, tap Phone, then tap Call Forwarding. Toggle it on and enter the phone number where you want calls to go. The phone will confirm the number by sending a test call. Once confirmed, all incoming calls will ring on both phones — your original number and the forwarding number.
If you want calls to forward only when you don't answer, use Do Not Disturb instead. Set a schedule in Settings under Do Not Disturb, then enable it. Calls from your favorites will still ring through, but others go to voicemail. This is different from call forwarding because the call still attempts your iPhone first.
To turn off call forwarding, go back to Settings > Phone > Call Forwarding and toggle it off. Your original number stops forwarding immediately. Note that call forwarding requires an active cellular plan — it does not work on Wi-Fi alone.
Setting up call forwarding on an Android phone
Android call forwarding is in Settings under Call Settings or Phone Settings, depending on your phone brand and carrier. Open Settings, find Phone or Call Settings, then look for Call Forwarding or Call Divert. Tap it, select Unconditional (to forward all calls), then enter the phone number. Confirm the number and the forwarding activates.
Some Android phones let you set conditional forwarding — forward only when busy, when unanswered, or when unreachable. These options appear in the same Call Forwarding menu. Choose the condition you want, enter the number, and confirm. You can set different forwarding numbers for each condition.
To disable forwarding, return to Call Forwarding settings and select Turn Off or Disable. The setting takes effect immediately. Like iPhones, Android forwarding requires an active cellular connection through your carrier.
Forwarding a landline to another number
Landline call forwarding is managed by your phone company, not your phone itself. Contact your provider's customer service line or log into your online account. Most providers have a Call Forwarding or Call Management option in the account portal. Enter the number where you want calls forwarded and save the change.
Some landline providers charge a monthly fee for call forwarding — typically $3 to $5 — while others include it free. Ask your provider whether there is a charge before you set it up. The forwarding usually activates within minutes of you confirming it, though some providers take up to an hour.
To stop landline forwarding, log back into your account or call customer service and disable it. Your original number will stop forwarding immediately. If you forget to disable it before canceling your landline service, the forwarding ends when the service ends.
Forwarding to voicemail or a service line
You can forward calls to a voicemail service, an answering service, or a business line instead of a personal phone. The setup is the same — enter the service's phone number in your call forwarding settings. When someone calls your original number, the call rings at the service instead.
Many people forward to their work number during business hours and to personal voicemail after hours. Set up two separate forwarding rules if your phone allows conditional forwarding. On iPhones, you would use Do Not Disturb scheduling combined with call forwarding. On Android, use the conditional forwarding options in your Call Forwarding menu.
If you forward to a voicemail service, make sure the service is set up and active before you enable forwarding. Test it by calling your own number from another phone to confirm the call reaches the right place.
Forwarding to an international number
Forwarding calls to a phone outside the United States usually requires your carrier to enable international forwarding first. Call your carrier's customer service and ask them to turn on international call forwarding. They may ask why you need it and may require a one-time fee or add a monthly charge.
Once international forwarding is enabled, enter the full international number in your call forwarding settings — include the country code and any leading zeros. For example, a UK number would be +44 followed by the local number without the leading 0. Test the forwarding by calling your number from another phone to confirm it reaches the international destination.
International forwarding can be expensive if the receiving country charges high termination rates. Ask your carrier what the cost will be before you set it up. Some carriers charge per call; others charge a flat monthly fee. Disabling international forwarding stops the charges immediately.
Troubleshooting call forwarding problems
If calls are not forwarding, check that call forwarding is actually turned on in your settings. On smartphones, go back to the call forwarding menu and confirm the toggle is on and the number is correct. If the number has a typo, calls will not reach the destination. Correct it and test again.
If you have Do Not Disturb enabled on an iPhone, it may be blocking calls before they forward. Check your Do Not Disturb settings and make sure it is not set to silence all calls. If you want calls to forward while Do Not Disturb is on, disable Do Not Disturb or adjust its settings to allow calls from your favorites.
If forwarding worked before but stopped, your carrier may have deactivated it. This sometimes happens if you change plans or if your account has a billing issue. Call your carrier's customer service to confirm forwarding is still active on your account. They can reactivate it if needed.
If you are forwarding to a landline and calls are not reaching it, the landline may have call waiting disabled or may be set to reject forwarded calls. Ask the person at that number to check their phone settings. Some older phone systems do not accept forwarded calls properly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I forward calls to multiple phones at the same time?
Most carriers only allow forwarding to one number at a time. If you want multiple phones to ring, use a conference calling service or ask your carrier if they offer simultaneous ringing. Some business phone systems have this built in, but personal cell phone plans typically do not.
Will call forwarding work if my phone is turned off?
Yes. Call forwarding happens on your carrier's network, not on your phone itself. Even if your phone is off, calls will still forward to the other number as long as your account is active and forwarding is enabled.
Does call forwarding use my phone's data or minutes?
Call forwarding does not use your phone's data. It uses your carrier's network to redirect the call. The person calling you pays for their call as normal; you do not pay extra for the forwarding itself, though international forwarding may have a separate charge from your carrier.
Can I set different forwarding numbers for different times of day?
Android phones with conditional forwarding can set different numbers for different conditions (busy, unanswered, unreachable). iPhones do not have this built in, but you can use Do Not Disturb scheduling combined with call forwarding to achieve a similar effect by manually changing your settings at different times.
What happens if the forwarding number is busy?
If you forward to a number that is busy, the call will not reach that number. The caller will hear a busy signal or be sent to your voicemail, depending on your carrier's settings. If you want calls to go to voicemail when the forwarding number is busy, set up conditional forwarding to voicemail as a backup.